About Somateria fischeri (J.F.Brandt, 1847)
The spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri) is a large sea duck that breeds on the coasts of Alaska and northeastern Siberia. This species is slightly smaller than the common eider, with a body length of 52–57 cm (20.5–22.5 in). Adult breeding males are unmistakeable: they have a black body, white back, and yellow-green head marked with large circular white patches around the eyes, which give the species its common name. The male (drake) produces a weak crooning call, while the female’s call is a harsh croak. Females are a rich brown, but can be readily distinguished from all duck species other than other eiders by their size and body structure. When seen clearly, paler ring-shaped markings around the eyes (called goggles) are visible and confirm the identification. Immature spectacled eiders and adult drakes in eclipse plumage look similar to females. The species' binomial name honors German scientist Johann Fischer von Waldheim.
Spectacled eiders live along the coast of Alaska, the easternmost part of Russia, and within the Bering Sea. There are two separate breeding populations in Alaska and one in Russia. Historically, Alaska held more breeding individuals, but the Russian breeding population is now much larger. The United States population is estimated to be 3,000–4,000 nesting pairs. Spectacled eiders molt at sea between 2 and 45 kilometers (1.2 to 28.0 mi) from shore, in areas north of 63°N. Because spectacled eiders are rarely seen away from their breeding grounds, their wintering areas in the Bering Sea were not confirmed until 1995, when satellite telemetry was used to locate them.
